La binarité, c'est pas mon genre | Antonin Le Mée | TEDxRennes

Drawing on his experience with LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex) organizations and his own life, Antonin Le Mée explains how Western society is structured by binary categories linked to sex and gender. Whether in expected behaviors or administrative systems, everywhere we are classified into two rigid categories: male/female, man/woman, sir/madam... Yet, the reality of individuals is far richer than this binary. There is an incredible diversity of bodies, identities, and behaviors. What happens then to people who don't fit into binary norms? Having an androgynous appearance, being intersex, or transgender, for example, are still too often synonymous with unacceptable difficulties in society, ranging from inappropriate remarks to genital mutilation. So why separate, sort, and label at all costs? What if we learned to count beyond two? Born in Saint-Brieuc, Antonin grew up immersed in three cultures (French, Breton, and Indochinese) and understood from a young age that diversity was an asset, but that it was sometimes very difficult to have one's individuality respected. Fortunately, the example of his family, with their numerous social and activist commitments, showed him that we could all act for a fairer and more reasoned world. In 2009, he walked through the doors of the Rennes Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Center (CGLBT), became a volunteer, and, a jack-of-all-trades, took on responsibilities there over the years. In 2015, he stepped down as president to focus on his work with the National LGBT Federation, where he is currently a spokesperson. From grassroots initiatives in Brittany to working with elected officials, Antonin engages with a wide range of people in areas such as combating discrimination, promoting health, providing individual support, and community education. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx